THE PIETY THAT PINCHES.
By T. L. Cuyler
The best test of piety in our times is that it will consent to be pinched without grumbling. The man who only goes to church when he is "baited" by attractive preaching; who gives a donation to the cause of charity only when he can see his name in the papers; who works only when he can take the lead; and who prays only when he is "called on," gives but poor evidence of a changed heart. Yet our church rolls are cumbered with hundreds of persons who answer to the above description, as face answereth to face in a mirror. This self-indulgent religion is to-day the most fatal plague from which the church of Christ is suffering. It completely nullifies the most faithful efforts of the most faithful pastor, to win sinners to the service of God. Such a pastor is constantly driven to say to himself, "Why need I labor for days upon this discourse, when the people for whom it is intended will not stir an inch towards the sanctuary, if the weather is disagreeable? Why need I appoint a week of special prayer while half of my members will be attending a round of evening parties? Why arrange for a temperance effort when an audience can only be secured by attractive music, or the novelty of some famous speaker? Why preach the claims of foreign missions, or the tract society, or the Bible cause, while so many hold on to their carriages and good dinners, and only 'cut down' their expenses when the contribution box goes around?" The crying sin of the day is self-indulgence. It eats into the heart of the church like a canker. It is constantly betraying the Master to his enemies. It robs God in order to keep on good terms with the world. It is often ready to deny Christ, but seldom ready to deny self. The most unpopular doctrine to preach, and the most difficult grace to practice, is the good old apostolic grace of self-denial. The daily battle is with that cunning, greedy, and godless281sinner, "self." The truest victory which the religion of Jesus can gain, is when it lays this many-headed monster in the dust. If we were asked in what respect the churches of our day need a revival most urgently, we would answer that it is in regard to Christ-like self-denial. This touches the core. Jesus never held out bribes to enlist followers, and never offered easy terms of discipleship. The call for recruits was in these clear, sharp words, "Whosoever will not take up his cross daily and follow me, cannot be my disciple." Every single impulse and lust of the human heart, was required to bear a pinch. But the man and the woman who could bear this pinching cheerfully, wrought glorious results. I often think that if we had only one single church made up of such timber as Silas, Dorcas, Aquila, Onesiphorus, and Barnabas, it would shake Boston, New York, or Chicago, to their foundations. Not in grand or heroic exploits, is this grace of self-denial demanded; but in the hundred acts of every-day life; in the constant display of loyalty to Christ. Occasions for sublime sacrifice are rare. The days of Smithfield martyrdoms are over; and it is well that they are, for we fear that the piety which will not get its feet wet on a rainy Sunday, would cut but a poor figure before a blazing stake. Brethren, let us go down into the dust, and pray for the spirit that will "drink of Christ's cup, and be baptized with his baptism." Let us put the knife to our besetting sin of self-indulgence. Let us pray for the grace that "goes against the grain," and pinches our selfishness. The only victory that overcometh the world, is the victory that lays self at the feet of Immanuel.